Cleveland, Ohio, School Choice - Release: 2-20-2002

Washington, D.C.—Cleveland School choice moms Roberta Kitchen and Christine Suma, as well as Clint Bolick, vice president for the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Justice, the nation’s leading legal defender of school choice, had the following statements to make after the U.S. Supreme Court argument and rally on school choice:

Roberta Kitchen (Who attended the argument and spoke at the national rally)

"At the rally, I stood in front of hundreds of school choice supporters, looking out at a sea of parents and children. And beyond them, standing against us as always, were the same union members and special interest activists . . . no parents that I saw. But this time we were between them and the Court, and the Court was behind us today. It wasn’t the other way around with them standing in our way of getting out kids a good education. We can only hope the Court will stay behind us with a decision that preserves our school choice."

"The attorneys for school choice in the Court showed that we do have a choice among schools and that choice would be even greater if the public schools stopped their boycott of the program."

"Winning here would mean no more frustration and worry, wondering what will happen to us. A victory would be a relief and a huge opportunity for others."

"School choice puts control of the educational paths of our children in the hands of parents, where it ought to be – we know what’s best for our children."

"I used to be pinned in a corner about how to give my children a good education. School choice is the excellent answer to our educational problems in Cleveland."

Christine Suma (Who spoke at the national rally)

"As I stood at the rally this afternoon, I looked up and saw ‘Equal Justice Under the Law.’ That’s all I want for my children. I want the field to be leveled so that all children can receive funding for the school of their choice."

"It was an amazing experience to be surrounded by a sea of 600 or more people who where all united for choice, who had all come together because they know that our hopes for a good education for our kids rests on this case."

"When the school choice program began with the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program, and I received spots for my children, I thought, ‘That’s the best lottery I ever won.’"

Clint Bolick (Who sat at counsels' table and spoke at the national rally)

"Our goal all along has been to demonstrate that this program is not about religion, but about education. The court seemed very receptive to that argument."

"We are cautiously optimistic that the court will lift the constitutional cloud from this vital education reform."